Washington Administrative Code
Title 220 - Fish and Wildlife, Department of
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND CONSERVATION
Chapter 220-660 - Hydraulic code rules
Section 220-660-310 - Tidal reference areas

Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 220-660-310

Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024

(1) Description: The department uses the following tidal reference areas to delineate segments of the state's marine shorelines. The authorized work times in saltwater areas vary by tidal reference area.

(2) Definitions for tidal reference areas:

(a) Tidal Reference Area 1 (Shelton): All saltwater areas in Oakland Bay and Hammersley Inlet westerly of a line projected from Hungerford Point to Arcadia.

(b) Tidal Reference Area 2 (Olympia): All saltwater areas between a line projected from Hungerford Point to Arcadia and a line projected from Johnson Point to Devil's Head. This includes Totten, Eld, Budd, Case, and Henderson Inlets, and Pickering Passage.

(c) Tidal Reference Area 3 (South Puget Sound): All saltwater areas easterly and northerly of a line projected from Johnson Point to Devil's Head and southerly of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

(d) Tidal Reference Area 4 (Tacoma): All saltwater areas northerly of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and southerly of a line projected true west and true east across Puget Sound from the northern tip of Vashon Island.

(e) Tidal Reference Area 5 (Seattle): All saltwater areas northerly of a line projected true west and true east across Puget Sound from the northern tip of Vashon Island and southerly of a line projected true east from Point Jefferson at 47°45'N. latitude across Puget Sound. This area includes Port Orchard, Port Madison, and Dyes and Sinclair Inlets.

(f) Tidal Reference Area 6 (Edmonds): All saltwater areas northerly of a line projected true east from Point Jefferson at 47°45'N. latitude across Puget Sound and southerly of a line projected true east from Possession Point to Mukilteo and from Foulweather Bluff to Double Bluff.

(g) Tidal Reference Area 7 (Everett): All saltwater areas northerly of a line projected true east from Possession Point to Chennault Beach, easterly of a line projected 5° true from East Point to Lowell Point, and southerly of the Stanwood to Camano Island Highway. This area includes Port Gardner, Port Susan, and parts of Possession Sound and Saratoga Passage.

(h) Tidal Reference Area 8 (Yokeko Point): All saltwater area westerly and northerly of a line projected 5° true from East Point to Lowell Point, north of the Stanwood to Camano Island Highway, and easterly and southerly of Deception Pass Bridge and the Swinomish Channel Bridge on State Route 20. This area includes Holmes Harbor, Saratoga Passage, Skagit Bay, Similk Bay, and most of the Swinomish Channel.

(i) Tidal Reference Area 9 (Blaine): All saltwater area in Skagit County and Whatcom County that lies northerly of the Swinomish Channel Bridge on State Route 20 and westerly and northerly of Deception Pass Bridge.

(j) Tidal Reference Area 10 (Port Townsend): All saltwater area of Puget Sound as defined in WAC 220-16-210, except Hood Canal south of a line projected from Tala Point to Foulweather Bluff, and except all waters defined in Tidal Reference Areas 1 through 9. Area 10 includes waters of the San Juan Islands, Admiralty Inlet, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and associated bays and inlets.

(k) Tidal Reference Area 11 (Union): All saltwater area of Hood Canal southerly and easterly of a line projected from the northern entrance of Lilliwaup Bay to the northern entrance of Dewatto Bay.

(l) Tidal Reference Area 12 (Seabeck): All saltwater areas of Hood Canal northerly of a line projected from the northern entrance of Lilliwaup Bay to the northern entrance of Dewatto Bay and southerly of a line projected true east from Hazel Point. This area includes Dabob Bay and Quilcene Bay.

(m) Tidal Reference Area 13 (Bangor): All saltwater area of Hood Canal northerly of a line projected true east from Hazel Point and south of a line projected from Tala Point to Foulweather Bluff. This area includes Port Gamble.

(n) Tidal Reference Area 14 (Ocean Beaches): All saltwater area between Cape Flattery and the Oregon border at the mouth of the Columbia River, excluding Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay.

(o) Tidal Reference Area 15 (Westport): All saltwater area in Grays Harbor easterly of a line projected from the outermost end of the north jetty to the outermost end of the south jetty, and westerly of 123°59'W. longitude.

(p) Tidal Reference Area 16 (Aberdeen): All saltwater area in Grays Harbor easterly of 123°59'W. longitude and westerly of the State Route 101 Bridge across the Chehalis River.

(q) Tidal Reference Area 17 (Willapa Bay): All saltwater area in Willapa Bay easterly of a line projected from Leadbetter Point to Cape Shoalwater.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Washington may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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